Fastening device for a vehicle area

ABSTRACT

A fastening device for a vehicle area with at least one reception rail fixed to the vehicle has associated therewith an additional functional profile. The additional functional profile permits the binding of further components to the reception rail. In one embodiment, the functional profile includes a plastic envelope profile surrounding the reception rail. In a further embodiment, a fastening block is placed in the reception rail, and can be secured in the reception rail.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. Ser. No. 10/840567, filed May 6, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,097,401.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a fastening device for a vehicle area with atleast one vehicle-fixed reception rail.

2. Description of Related Art

Such a fastening device is generally known in connection with cars.Thus, in particular vehicle seats in the vehicle interior are located indisplaceable manner on reception rails. The reception rails areconnected to a vehicle floor and are consequently fixed to the vehicle.

It is also known (DE 100 47 542 A1) to anchor several reception rails ina loading or luggage area or space of a car and said rails can be usedfor receiving and fixing functional components.

The problem of the invention is to provide a fastening device of theaforementioned type, which, with simple means, has high functionality.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This problem is solved in that with the reception rail is associated atleast one additional functional profile, which at least approximatelycorresponds to a reception rail length and which over at least a partengages flat on the reception rail. The part is constituted by at leastone longitudinal edge surface of the reception rail. Preferably thefunctional profile surrounds the reception rail over a partcircumferential area. Preferably the at least one reception rail islocated in the vicinity of a base or floor of a luggage area, whichserves as the vehicle area. The luggage area can in the form of a trunkor boot be separated from the passenger area or can be integratedtogether with the passenger area into a vehicle interior. The luggagearea can also be a commercial vehicle area. It is also possible toprovide the at least one reception rail in a passenger compartmentserving as a vehicle area. The additional functional profile can bedetachably or undetachably connected to the reception rail. It can beplaced positively, non-positively or integrally on the reception rail.It is also possible to merely associate spatially said additionalfunctional profile with the reception rail, without there being a fixedand permanent link between the functional profile and the receptionrail. The term spatial association is in particular understood to meanthat the functional profile is in contact with the reception rail in atleast part of the latter.

According to a development of the invention the functional profile isconstituted by a top or cover profile, which is placed on an open sideof the reception rail. This development is particularly advantageous ifthe at least one reception rail is countersunk in a luggage area floorand the top profile closes the open side of the reception railpreferably flush with the connecting luggage area floor.

According to a further development of the invention, the top profile isin the form of an angular fitted extension of a wall part of the vehiclearea. This development is particularly advantageous if the at least onereception rail is located in a corner area of a luggage area. The topprofile can then be located on a side wall part of the luggage area andpreferably in its transition zone to a luggage area floor. Preferablythe top profile is shaped in hinge-like manner on the wall part.

According to a further development of the invention, the functionalprofile is an envelope profile, particularly made from plasticsurrounding the reception rail and on which is provided at least onefunctional geometry. A functional geometry can be in the form of afastening profiling, but also in the form of differently designedfunctional or reception portions. The fastening profile can be ahinge-like articulation area, a linear guide along the envelope profilefor the displaceable insertion or removal of a top element or some otherfunctional element, or also a locking or plugging profiling for lockingor plugging in the top or functional element.

According to a further development of the invention, the envelopeprofile has means for positive connection to the reception rail, whichensures a reliable, permanent connection to said rail. Functional areasof the envelope profile, such as in particular a fastening profiling,are consequently reliably connected to the reception rail and thereforeto the vehicle. The means for the positive connection are in particularconstituted by profilings, extensions or the like shaped in one piece onthe envelope profile and which positively embrace at least part of thefunctional profile. Separate connecting means which temporarily securethe envelope profile to the reception rail are also known.

According to another development of the invention, the functionalprofile has a support moulding for supporting a luggage area floorportion. The support moulding consequently serves as a supportingfunction for an in particular frame-like or areal part of the luggagearea floor.

In another development of the invention at least one fastening block islocated in the reception rail in displaceable manner which is detachablysecurable in the reception rail by blocking means. This makes itpossible to use the reception rail as a fastening rail for the variablefastening of different parts. The fastening block is provided with atleast one reception or binding area, to which can be detachably secureda fastening means of a functional part to be anchored in the vehiclearea. Preferably the fastening block at least substantially fills thefree cross-section of the reception rail, so that in the case of aC-shaped reception profile of the reception rail it is possible toobtain a positive retention of the fastening block in the receptionrail. The fastening block can in particular be displaced in thereception rail in the manner of a slider. The fastening block can besecured in position in the reception rail by using positively ornon-positively acting blocking means.

According to a further development of the invention, the fastening blockhas a flexible annular loop anchored therein and which is made fromtearing-resistant material. The annular loop constitutes a reception orbinding area for connecting the fastening block to a fastening means.The annular loop is preferably constituted by a fabric strip. Fasteninghooks or similar fastening means can be bound to the annular loop andcan be in the form of parts of tension means such as bands, cables,etc., or can be located on functional devices, which can be mounted onthe vehicle side by connection to the annular loop.

According to a further development of the invention, the annular loop isconnected to return means for transferring the annular loop into a restposition closely engaging on the fastening block. The return means ispreferably an elastic tension means, particularly an elastic tensionmember, which is on the one hand connected to the annular loop and onthe other to the fastening block. Preferably, in the rest position, theannular loop is flush with the fastening block. A differently designedclose bearing surface is also possible.

According to a further development of the invention the blocking meansare designed in manually detachable manner and are so positionedrelative to the fastening profilings of the reception rail, that tensileloading of the annular loop reinforces a detent action of the blockingmeans relative to the fastening profilings. The blocking means arepreferably constituted by detents, which are located on movable lockingelements within the fastening block. The locking elements are movablymounted in such a way that with their detents they are drawn in theannular loop tension direction into the fastening profilings, preferablyinto locking receptacles of the reception rail, which increases thefastening or blocking action of the blocking means.

In another development of the invention the reception rail is providedwith at least one support web for the bearing of an interior base orfloor part. In this case the supporting function is directly broughtabout by a corresponding extension on the reception rail.

The problem of the invention is also solved in that the reception railis detachably or undetachably connected to a body support structure,which ensures a stable anchoring of the reception rail.

In another development of the invention the reception rail is designedas a load-absorbing part of the body support structure. This provides aparticularly crashproof anchoring of the reception rail on the bodysupport structure, so that the reception rail is also able to reliablyfix heavy loads in the vehicle without it being torn from its firm linkwith the body support structure. The reception rail is sufficientlydimensionally stable that in the case of tensile loading caused byvehicle impact loads it is not or is not significantly deformed. Inaddition, the connection of the reception rail to the body supportstructure is sufficiently load absorbing for the connection to the bodysupport structure to be secured even in the case of correspondingtensile loads on the reception rail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages and features of the invention can be gathered fromthe following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, theclaims and the attached drawings, wherein show:

FIG. 1 Diagrammatically an extract from a luggage area of a motorvehicle with an embodiment of a fastening device according to theinvention.

FIG. 2 A larger scale sectional view of the fastening device for theluggage area of FIG. 1 in sectional zone II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 A sectional representation of another embodiment of a fasteningdevice similar to FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 A sectional representation of a further embodiment of a fasteningdevice similar to FIGS. 2 or 3.

FIG. 5 A perspective view of a detail of a reception rail of a fasteningdevice with a displaceable fastening block.

FIG. 6 A section through the reception rail with fastening blockaccording to FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 On a larger scale and diagrammatically, a longitudinal sectionthrough a fastening block according to FIGS. 5 and 6 provided with anannular loop.

FIG. 8 The fastening block according to FIG. 7 with the fastening loopin its rest position.

FIG. 9 A larger scale, perspective view of the annular loop for thefastening block of FIGS. 7 and 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A motor vehicle in the form of a car has an interior in the rear ofwhich is provided a luggage or loading area or space 1. In theembodiment according to FIG. 1 the luggage area 1 is open to the rooflining. In other embodiments of the invention the luggage area is in theform of a trunk, which is separated from the vehicle interior andbounded by a trunk cover. The luggage area 1 in the embodiment accordingto FIG. 1 is forwardly bounded in the vehicle longitudinal direction bya rear seat back arrangement 2. Towards the facing vehicle sides theluggage area 1 is in each case enclosed by a side wall 3, which isprovided with a window cutout above a not further designated vehicleedge. The luggage area 1 has a planar base or floor 4.

The side wall 3 forms a covering or lining part, which level with theluggage area floor 4 has its lower edge supported in vehicle-fixedmanner in a support profile 8 serving as a functional profile. Thesupport profile 8 is preferably made from plastic. It is also possibleto make the support profile 8 from metal and use an extrusion process.The support profile 8 is placed on a reception rail 6, which is weldedto a body support structure 7, preferably to supporting parts of a bodyfloor. The reception rail 6 is oriented in the vehicle longitudinaldirection in the luggage area 1 and extends over virtually the entirelength of said area 1. In not shown manner, a further reception railfixed to the body support structure is provided on the other side wall 3at the transition to the luggage area floor 4 on the facing luggage areaside.

The reception rail 6 is designed as an upwardly open hollow profile andhas an approximately U-shaped cross-section. The upper edges of thereception rail 6 are in each case bent laterally outwards, so thatfastening profilings in the form of support profile 8 and a furthersupport profile 9 can be engaged from above on the reception rail 6without the plugging portions of the support profiles 8, 9 restrictingthe free cross-section of the reception rail 6. It is consequentlypossible to insert in the reception rail from above one or morefastening blocks 21 (FIGS. 5 to 8). Both support profiles 8, 9 engagefrom the outside flat on lateral legs of the reception rail 6 and are ineach case in the form of hollow profiles. Both support profiles 8, 9correspond to the length of the reception rail 6 and have in each caseat least one additional function. The left-hand support profile 8 inFIG. 2 is provided on its top surface with a reception groove 11 for theinsertion of the lining part for the side wall 3. The support profile 8is also provided with a cylindrical reception groove in which isswivellably insertable a swivel hinge portion 10 of a top profile 5. Thetop profile 5 extends over the entire length of the reception rail 6 andcovers the open side of the reception rail 6 in surface-flush mannerwith the luggage area floor 4. Both support profile 8 and supportprofile 9 are provided on their top surface with corresponding bearingedges for reliable positioning and supporting of the top profile 5 inits position closing the reception rail 6. The facing support profile 9has a support shoulder 13 on which rests a base plate of the luggagearea floor 4.

The embodiment according to FIG. 3 in many ways corresponds to that ofFIGS. 1 and 2 and functionally identical components are given the samereference numerals, but to which the letter a has been added. Theessential difference is that in this embodiment the side wall liningpart 3 a is in the form of a plastic part and projects upwards invertical extension of one leg of the U-shaped reception rail 6 a. Thelower edge of the side wall lining part 3 a rests on the upper edge ofthe corresponding leg of the reception rail 6 a. The side wall liningpart 3 a is in the form of an areal or plate-like plastic component andis provided in the vicinity of its lower edge with a film hinge 14 bymeans of which the top profile 5 a serving as a functional profile isshaped roughly at right angles on the side wall lining part 3 a. The topprofile 5 a rests flat on the upper longitudinal edges of the two legsof the reception rail 6 a and covers the open area of said rail. On itslongitudinal side the top profile 5 a is swivellably held by means ofthe film hinge 14, so that, as required, it can be flapped upwardstowards the side wall lining part 3 a in order to give access to theinterior of the reception rail 6 a.

In the vicinity of its leg facing the side wall lining part 3 a, thereception rail 6 a has as a support web a support shoulder 15, which isformed by the folding back of the preferably steel section receptionrail 6 a.

Also in the case of the fastening device according to FIG. 4functionally identical parts are given the same reference numerals, butto which has been added the letter b. In this embodiment the receptionrail 6 b is surrounded by a plastic envelope profile 16. In much thesame way as the support profiles 8 and 9, the envelope profile 16 hastwo web portions 18, which positively engage over the offset legportions of the reception rail 6 b. The envelope profile 16 issubstantially U-shaped, like the reception rail 6 b. In dot-dash lineform is shown a support groove area, which can be shaped alternativelyor additionally on the envelope profile 16 in order to receive the sidewall lining part 3 b, as in the embodiment according to FIG. 2. In thevicinity of the top of the envelope profile 16 a top profile 5 b isintegrally shaped on a leg thereof by means of a film hinge 19 and isswivellably mounted on the longitudinal side of the envelope profile 16.The top profile 5 b closes the reception rail 6 b flush with a luggagearea floor. Onto the facing leg of the envelope profile 16 is shaped asupport shoulder 17, which projects outwards at right angles and servesas a bearing surface for a luggage area floor part.

Each of the reception rails 6 to 6 b according to FIGS. 2 to 4 isprovided in the vicinity of the facing leg with in each case a row ofuniformly mutually spaced recesses 12, 12 a, 12 b in the longitudinaldirection of the reception rail 6 and which serve as locking receptaclesfor the positive reception of the detents 27 of a fastening block 21.The fastening block 21 (FIGS. 5 to 8) has a block-like body, whoseheight roughly corresponds to the vertical clearance of the receptionrail 6 and whose width roughly corresponds to the inside width of thereception rail 6. The inside cross-section of the reception rail 6 andthe cross-section of the fastening block 21 are so matched to oneanother that the fastening block 21 is longitudinally displaceablewithin the reception rail 6 for as long as it is not fixed in thelocking recesses 12 by the subsequently further described blockingmeans. In each case two detents 27 on each side of the fastening block21 are located on each case one locking jaw 24. The two locking jaws 24are swivellably mounted about two parallel swivel or pivot pins 25 in abody of the fastening block 21. The two locking jaws 24 are arranged inmirror symmetrical manner to a vertical median longitudinal plane of thefastening block 21 and in each case slope upwards and outwards. On thetop surface thereof, the two locking jaws 24 are in each case providedwith a handle 23, which permits a manual swivelling of the locking jaws24 by gripping the handles 23 from above. In the locking direction thetwo locking jaws 24 are subject to the action of a helper spring 26 inthe form of a compression spring and which extends between the two jaws24. In the position shown in FIG. 6 the two locking jaws 24 with theirdetents 27 are locked in the locking recesses of the reception rail 6.By simply inwardly pressing the two handles 23, the detents 27 arereleased from the locking recesses 12, so that the fastening block 21can be displaced within the reception rail 6. Thus, as required, thefastening block 21 can be displaced along the reception rail 6 to 6 b.After locking again the manual pressure on the handles 23 is in eachcase removed towards the centre, so that the detents 27 automaticallylock in the next closest locking recesses 12, as soon as the fasteningblock 21 has reached the corresponding locking recesses during itslinear displacement in the reception rail.

In order to be able to secure fastening means to the fastening block 21,the fastening or binding area is constituted by a flexible annular loop22, which is shown in FIG. 7 in its functional or operating positionlinked with not shown fastening means and in FIG. 8 in its countersunkrest position flush in the fastening block 21. The annular loop 22 loopsa not shown block portion of the fastening block 21 with clearance insuch a way that it is possible to extract an upper strand of the annularloop 22 upwards and beyond the surface of the fastening block 21 (cf.FIG. 7). The annular loop 22 is preferably in the form of a highstrength fabric strip, connected by its facing front ends in overlappingmanner to provide the ring shape. On said overlap area 32 engages anelastic tension means, here in the form of an elastic tension member 29.The tension member 29 is deflected about a fixed deflection portion 28,which is positioned in spaced manner below the block portion of thefastening block 21 and in the latter. With its one end region, thetension member 29 is firmly connected to the annular loop 22 in theoverlap area 32 of the ends of the latter. A facing end of the tensionmember 29 is fastened to a retaining head 30, which is fixed in thefastening block 21. Below the block portion and below the deflectionarea 28 is provided a cavity 31, which serves as a storage area for thetension member 29 and lose loop areas of the annular loop 22 in its restposition.

As soon as an upward tensile load is exerted by fastening means on theannular loop 22, the latter is drawn upwards in accordance with FIG. 7until its lower area firmly loops the block portion of the fasteningblock 21 and the tension strap 29 is drawn out into the taut positionaccording to FIG. 7. When the tensile load on the annular loop 22 isremoved, the elastic tensile force of the tension strap 29 draws theannular loop 22 back into the storage area 31 and the lose portions ofthe loop 22 are deflected round the deflection area 28. In the case of afurther tensile loading on the annular loop 22 in the upwards direction,said loop 22 is again drawn out into the position according to FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 clearly shows the design of the annular loop 22 as a sewn fabricstrip.

As it can be seen from FIGS. 4 and 6 the reception rail 6, 6 b isdetachably connected to the body support structure which is only shownin FIG. 6 and has no specific reference number. For the detachableconnection to a supporting profile or part of the body supportstructure, especially to a length wise oriented supporting profile ofthe body support structure under the trunk floor, screws 20 arepositioned in the corresponding reception rail and are mounted to thesupporting profile or part. Through unscrewing of the screws 20 thereception rail 6, 6 b can be released. The reception rails 6, 6 b aredesigned and mounted to the supporting profiles or parts in such a waythat they strengthen and reinforce the body support structure especiallyin the area of the trunk floor or luggage area floor.

1. A fastening device for a vehicle area with at least one vehicle-fixedreception rail, wherein at least one functional profile is associatedwith the reception rail, said at least one functional profileapproximately corresponding to a length of the reception rail and atleast a portion of which flatly engages on the reception rail, wherein atop profile is designed as an angular fitted extension of a wall part ofthe vehicle area, and wherein the top profile is shaped in hinge likemanner on the wall part.